Committee prepares for 2023 Canada Winter Games

More than a dozen Islanders from various backgrounds and communities will build Prince Edward Island’s case for hosting the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

The 16-member bid committee is made up of volunteers with expertise in sport, business, culture, volunteerism, event coordination, and marketing. Committee members will ask Islanders over the next few weeks for their vision of the games as the committee works to create the province’s conceptual plan.

“These individuals are committed to developing a plan to host a games that conforms to Canada Games standards, celebrates Canada and Prince Edward Island, and assures that the games are the best they possibly can be,” bid committee co-chairs Wayne Carew and Brian McFeely said. “We are indebted to all members for giving so freely of their time and expertise.”

The committee includes:

Brian McFeely (co-chair)

Wayne Carew (co-chair)

Blair Dunn

Dave MacNeill

John Morrison

Joey Dumville

Kateri Coade

Melissa Hilton

Gordie Whitlock

Deborah MacMurdo

Karolyn Godfrey

Heather Howatt

Tanya Gallant

Paul Power

Jonathon Ross

David MacAdam

“Our first step to hosting the 2023 Canada Games is creating a bid, and these committee members have a knowledge and enthusiasm that I know will result in a strong bid showcasing everything PEI has to offer,” Health and Wellness Minister Robert Mitchell said. “Hosting the Canada Games is a tremendous opportunity to grow our province’s economy and build a legacy for our athletes and our communities, and I know we will surprise people with what this small but mighty Island can do when Islanders work together to make big things happen.”

The bid must include a vision for the 2023 games that provides an overall feel for the games including:

how we will welcome visitors;

what they will experience;

the legacy of these games;

how they will build upon the history of this national event; and

how we will celebrate our province and our national culture.

To create a vision that represents the views of all Islanders, five public sessions will be held on the following days:

February 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel (doors open at 6 p.m.);

February 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Credit Union Place in Summerside (doors open at 6 p.m.);

February 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lanes Riverhouse Inn and Cottages in Montague (doors open at 6 p.m.);

March 1 from 6:30 to- 8:30 p.m at Mill River Resort (doors open at 6 p.m.); and

March 6 (Francophone session) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside (doors open at 6 p.m.)

Backgrounder

The Canada Games is the largest multi-sport event in the country. In addition to the approximately 4,000 elite Canadian athletes that would compete, the event would bring thousands of family members, members of the media and officials to Prince Edward Island.

When did Prince Edward Island last host the Canada Games?

Prince Edward Island last hosted the Canada Summer Games in 2009, where they attracted 15,000 visitors and generated an estimated $81.5 million in economic activity.

What other provinces will bid?

While PEI is not bidding against another province to host the 2023 Canada Winter Games, a bid must be submitted which clearly outlines hosting plans and demonstrates the provinces ability to meet or surpass the minimum requirements as established in the Canada Games Council.

What must our bid include?

Prince Edward Island’s completed bid for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, which will be submitted this summer to the Canada Games Bid Evaluation Committee, will include our proposed measures to meet the standard requires of the games, such as:

sports venues;

non-sport venues;

the Games Village;

a vision for the games;

community leadership, support and engagement;

marketing and communications;

revenue generation;

expenses; and

the required games frameworks to ensure the success of this multi-sport event.

The Canada Games Bid Evaluation Committee reviews each component of the bid.

When will the games be awarded?

If all standards are met, the official awarding of the 2023 Canada Winter Games will take place in the fall of 2018.